Sound Off for March 7

Gov. Malloy is incorrect in saying car tax is the most hated tax by taxpayers. I vote for the income tax which rose under Malloy. Those who pay nothing in taxes, the totally subsidized may hate the car tax is it is the only tax they pay. They are the ones who benefit if tax cars were eliminated, not the average homeowner or renter paying market rent. Car taxes are the one responsibility these totally subsidized have. I think it is a lesson in rights/responsibility for them. And, one les burden if eliminated on the producers in our state. I.E. those who go to work, pay income tax.

A terrifying trend is skyrocketing under the Obama administration. A recent study by William Freeland, William McBride, and Ed Gerrish for the Tax Foundation reported that 58 million people, 41 percent of all tax filers, had no tax liability; indeed, many of them are receiving money back from the government. Explained the Foundation: "There are currently more Americans off the tax rolls than at any time since 1940, when the income tax became a 'mass tax'." Related to non-payers are nonfilers. Millions of people earn something, but not enough to require them to file a tax form. "By some estimates, when these nonfilers are added to the number of non-payers, the total number of Americans outside the income tax system jumps to roughly 50 percent of all households," observed the Foundation. More recent has been the rapid growth in the value of tax credits, which directly reduce a filer's tax liability. Noted the Foundation: "In 1990, the combined value of these credits was roughly $20 billion, after adjusting for inflation. Two decades later, the combined budgetary cost of both the basic and refundable tax credits reached a remarkable $224 billion in 2010." If government spending were going down, we might celebrate the rise of non-payers. Reducing the number of people subject to the burdensome and intrusive income tax would be an unabashed good. However, government expenditures have been skyrocketing steadily and rapidly. All of this goes to explain why the so called Obama economy is unsustainable and will lead to economic calamity.

Two property tax increases in three years with a possible 3rd increase this year! Torrington is being Mismanaged!

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The mayor must take responsibility, although it is the education Superintendent and the Board of Ed who caused the rash of expenses! Very irresponsible to the tax payers of Torrington! During a major recession, last year, the Superintendent asked for raises for the teachers and received them! Our property taxes immediately, were increased by the Mayor! How irresponsible! Noone knows how to sacrifice for the greater good, only, me, me, me... Now the superintendent, again, acts irresponsibly and sites 2 budgets for increases, She cannot even maintain a budget during this recession. America is sliding backwards and , unfortunately our schools, the major source of tax spending does not know how to hold the line. Citizens of Torrington, it is time for a new Mayor and a new School superintendent,(Board of ed- pay attention!)

I can't believe how purposely ignorant major television reporting is. For month after month they reported on the sequester, which was the same story over and over again. On Feb. 28, we all knew what the outcome would be no deal between the president and congress. This is not news except for old news.

Yet next door, three Democratic senators were asking for a tax on Wall Street transactions, but almost no reporters were there! That's real news. Television squashed the meeting and must be in hen with Wall Street. To solve the debt we need a tax on all Wall Street transactions, like 20 something European nations are going to do. Also we should tax the internet sales. Our defense budget cow be drastically reduced. We spend more money defending Europe than Europe does. By the way Staliw is gone. If Congressmen can't take these actions I mentioned then they are cowards afraid to stand up to lobbyist checkbooks. Instead of standing up to lobbyists like Wall Street. These elected officials would rather ruin the U.S. economy for the poor, middle class and retirees.